Menu

Psalms 63:8 — Word Study

Depth

WLCדָּבְקָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝֗י תָּמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

BSAforkîy to behâyâh helpʻezrâh shadowtsêl wingkânâph to overcomerânan

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 63
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ye.mi.Ne.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 63:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist expresses a deep connection with God, affirming that his soul clings to Him while being upheld by God's right hand.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on his relationship with God.
Where we areIn a personal prayer, the psalmist seeks comfort and support from God.
The hard wordדָּבְקָ֣ה
Take awayThe soul's cling to God is met with divine support.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbכִּי The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 63:8

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — A Psalm of Trustgenerated

7For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
8My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
9But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth.
10They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes.

Psalm 63:8 reveals the psalmist's profound reliance on God, illustrating a relationship marked by devotion and divine support. The preceding verses emphasize God's help and the joy found in His presence, setting the stage for this declaration of clinging trust. The imagery of being upheld by God's right hand reinforces the idea of divine strength and protection, as seen throughout the psalm.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 73:25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
2Psalm 143:6–7I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
3Genesis 32:26–28Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
42 Chronicles 31:21He was diligent in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and the commandments, in order to seek his God. And so he prospered.
5Song of Solomon 3:2

The Key Word דָּבְקָ֣ה, da.ve.Kahgenerated

The verb דָּבַק, transliterated as dabaq, means to cling or cleave closely. It conveys a sense of pursuing something with intensity and devotion, emphasizing the psalmist's deep desire to remain connected to God.

This verb is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action, which suggests the psalmist's ongoing commitment to God. The use of this word highlights the relational aspect of faith, where the soul actively seeks and adheres to the divine.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb דָּבְקָ֣ה, it clings, governs the structure of the verse, with two phrases following: a prepositional phrase indicating the object of the clinging, and a second verb phrase describing the action of being upheld.

The sentence emphasizes the relationship between the soul's action of clinging and God's response of support, showcasing the interconnectedness of human devotion and divine strength.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the verb דָּבְקָ֣ה as ὅτι, which carries the meaning of 'because' or 'that.' This choice may reflect an interpretative nuance, suggesting a reason for the psalmist's clinging.

However, the translation of תָּמְכָ֥ה aligns closely with the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of divine support across both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 63:8 expresses the psalmist's deep devotion to God, stating that his soul clings to Him and that God's right hand supports him. This verse highlights the close relationship between the believer and God, emphasizing reliance on divine strength.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the soul to cling to God?

Clinging to God signifies a deep, personal relationship where one seeks to remain close to Him, trusting in His guidance and support.

How does God's right hand provide support?

The right hand symbolizes strength and power in the Bible, indicating that God's support is both protective and sustaining.

Why is the imagery of clinging important in this verse?

The imagery of clinging illustrates the active pursuit of a relationship with God, highlighting the psalmist's commitment to follow and depend on Him.

How can I apply this verse to my life?

You can apply this verse by seeking to develop a closer relationship with God, trusting Him for support in times of need and striving to remain steadfast in faith.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I demonstrate my commitment to clinging to God in my daily life?
  2. How do I experience God's support during challenging times?
  3. What practices can help me maintain a close relationship with God?
  4. How does understanding the concept of clinging to God change my perspective on my faith journey?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 63:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

My soul followeth hard after thee,.... In a way of duty, and in the use of means; as prayer, meditation, c.

Read John Gill on Psalms 63 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. -Second strophe.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 63 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Followeth hard after thee, i.e. pursueth thee eagerly, diligently, and resolvedly, and as it were step by step, when thou seemest to run away from me; which is the emphasis of this Hebrew word. My soul and spirit cleaveth to thee, as this verb signifies, , when my body is absent from thy sanctuary. Upholdeth me: I do not lose my labour in following hard after thee; for though I am not, yet restored to the enjoyment of thy presence in thy house, yet I have present supports from thee, whereby my spirit is kept from fainting under my manifold pressures, and is enabled with faith and patience to wait upon thee, till thou seest fit to deliver me.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 63 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.Ver. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee] Adhaesit anima mea post te. As hard as mine enemies do after me, even hard at heels, as we say; Sic trahit sua quemque voluptas. A Christian’ s close cleaving to God is the continent cause of all his comfort. This we must beg of God, Jeremiah 13:11, sc. that we may cleave to God with full purpose of heart, Acts 11:23, and if he seem to withdraw, to follow him hot foot, and press his footsteps. Thy right hand upholdeth me] For otherwise I should faint and fail in the pursuit of thee; my short legs and pursy heart would never hold on.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 63 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) My soul . . .—Literally, my soul cleaved after thee, combining two ideas. (Comp. Jeremiah 42:16.) The English phrase, “hung upon thee” (comp. Prayer-Book version), exactly expresses it. For “depths,” or “abysses of the earth,” comp. Psalms 139:15; Ephesians 4:9. It means the under world of the dead.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 63 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. My soul followeth hard after thee] דבקה נפשי אחריך dabekah naphshi achareycha, "My soul cleaves (or) is glued after thee." This phrase not only shows the diligence of the pursuit, and the nearness of the attainment, but also the fast hold he had got of the mercy of his God.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 63 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8, 9. While he draws ever closer to God, his enemies will be destroyed.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 63 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My soul followeth hard after thee - The word used here - דבק dâbaq - means properly to cleave to; to adhere; to be glued to; to stick fast. Then it means to attach oneself to anything; and then, to pursue or follow after.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 63 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My soule cleaueth vnto thee: for thy right hand vpholdeth me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Cleaved hath my soul after Thee, On me hath Thy right hand taken hold.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My soul has cleaved after You, || Your right hand has taken hold on me.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(63:9) My soul cleaveth unto following thee: me thy right hand upholdeth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I cling to you; your right hand supports me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I hold on to you; your strong arms lift me up.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My soul keeps ever near you: your right hand is my support.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseverbדָּבְקָ֣הit.clingsnoun phrase · subjectנַפְשִׁ֣selfיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalאַחֲרֶ֑יafterךָyouclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּ֝֗(in)יmeverbתָּמְכָ֥הit.supportsnoun phrase · subjectיְמִינֶֽhandךָyour.right

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text of Psalms 63:8 reads, "דָּבְקָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝֗י תָּמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃" which translates to "My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." The Septuagint closely matches this text, with five out of six words corresponding directly, although the word order and articles differ due to the Greek language structure. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this specific verse, indicating that the Masoretic Text's reading is likely consistent across these ancient witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

דָּבְקָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝֗י תָּמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
דָּבְקָ֣הὅτιנַפְשִׁ֣יβοηθόςבִּ֝֗יκαὶתָּמְכָ֥הἐνיְמִינֶֽךָ׃πτερύγων

5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Psalms 63:8דָּבַקit clingsit clingsדָּבַקנֶ֫פֶשׁself myself myנֶ֫פֶשׁאַחַרafter youafter youאַחַרנִיmemeנִיתָּמַךְit supportsit supportsתָּמַךְיָמִיןright [handright [hand] yoיָמִיןנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁאָחַרto delayto delayאָחַריָמַןto go righto go rightיָמַןחֵךְpalatepalateחֵךְלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַירָדַףto pursueto pursueרָדַףזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָהבֵּיתבֵּיתעָרִיץruthlessruthlessעָרִיץשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלשׁוֹקleglegשׁוֹק
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Psalms 63:8

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
דָּבְקָ֣הda.ve.Kah it clings H1692 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cleave means to cling or stick to something, like pursuing something closely. It's used in the Bible to describe following God or others.
Tyndale gloss
to cleave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבַק, transliterated as dabaq, is a Hebrew verb meaning to cling or cleave. It encompasses a range of actions such as adhering closely, pursuing, and being joined together. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of the action. Notably, it can describe both physical and metaphorical closeness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבַק, דָּבֵק vb. cling, cleave, keep close

Qal

cling, cleave to

cling, cleave to

Pu. of crocodile’s scales, they are joined together

Hiph.

cause to cling or cleave to

pursue closely

overtake

Hoph. and my tongue is made to cleave (to) my gums

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1692 דָּבַק, דָּבֵק cling, cleave, keep close

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1692 dabaq daw-bak'

a primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere;

figuratively, to catch by pursuit:--abide fast, cleave (fast

together), follow close (hard after), be joined (together),

keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבַק (da.vaq) — to cleave.

1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cling, cleave to

1a2) to stay with

1b) (Pual) to be joined together

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to cleave to

1c2) to pursue closely

1c3) to overtake

1d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave

Aramaic equivalent: de.vaq (דְּבֵק "to cleave" H1693)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
נַפְשִׁ֣יnaf.Shi self my H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp1bs — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ'a.cha.Rei.kha after you H310 Suffix
716× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Tyndale gloss
after
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part

adv.

of place, behind

of time, afterwards

prep.

of place, behind, after

of time, after

conj. after that.

base

אַחֲרַי adj. Pr 28:23 a man that turneth backwards.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind

. of time, afterwards

. prep. . of place, behind, after

. of time, after

. conj. after that.

H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

310 'achar akh-ar'

from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an

adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after

(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),

behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,

hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,

posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),

when, with.

see HEBREW for 0309

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַחַר (a.char) — after.

1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)

1a) as an adverb

1a1) behind (of place)

1a2) afterwards (of time)

1b) as a preposition

1b1) behind, after (of place)

1b2) after (of time)

1b3) besides

1c) as a conjunction

1c) after that

1d) as a substantive

1d1) hinder part

1e) with other prepositions

1e1) from behind

1e2) from following after

אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.

backwards (of a man that turns backwards)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAcmpc/Sp2ms — Suffix
HAcmpc/Sp2ms
it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
בִּ֝֗יBi me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
תָּמְכָ֥הta.me.Khah it supports H8551 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to grasp or hold something, like taking hold of a person or object. It is used in books like Genesis and Psalms to describe helping or supporting someone.
Tyndale gloss
to grasp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תָּמַךְ (tamak) is a primitive root meaning to grasp, support, or attain. It covers actions like holding fast, maintaining, and helping. The Qal form includes meanings such as to hold up or keep, while the Niphal form suggests being seized or held. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תָּמַךְ] vb. grasp, support, attain

Qal

grasp, lay hold of

hold up, support

hold, keep

Niph. in the cords of his sin is he seized

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8551 תָּמַךְ grasp, support, attain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8551 tamak taw-mak'

a primitive root; to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep

fast; figuratively, to help, follow close:--(take, up-)hold

(up), maintain, retain, stay (up).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמַךְ (ta.makh) — to grasp.

1) to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to grasp, lay hold of, attain

1a2) to hold up, support

1a3) to hold, keep

1a4) to take hold of each other

1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be held

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
it clings self my after you me it supports right [hand] your
יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ye.mi.Ne.kha right [hand] your H3225 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Benjamin was a son of Israel and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph, mentioned in Genesis 35:18. The name also refers to the right hand or south direction.
Tyndale gloss
[Ben]jamin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָמִין (*yamiyn*) means 'right hand' or 'right side,' and it can also refer to the direction south, as the right hand points south when facing east. It is derived from the root word for 'to be strong' and covers various contexts, including body parts and directional references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָמִין 137 n.f. right hand

right hand

of situation on, or direction toward the right

of other parts of the body

= south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3225 יָמִין right hand . right hand

. of situation on, or direction toward the right

. of other parts of the body

. = south, because when facing east the right hand is toward the south

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3225 yamiyn yaw-meen'

from 3231; the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or

other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally,

the south:--+ left-handed, right (hand, side), south.

see HEBREW for 03231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָמִין (ya.min) — right.

1) right, right hand, right side

1a) right hand

1b) right (of direction)

1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)

Also means: ya.min (יָמִין ": south" H3225H)

יָמִין (ya.min) — right: south.

1) right, right hand, right side

1a) right hand

1b) right (of direction)

1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East)

יָמִין (ya.min) — [Ben]jamin.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);

brother of: Joseph (H3130);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsc/Sp2ms — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate